University of Alabama Honors College series kicks off with Occupy Wall Street chat

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- The University of Alabama’s Honors College Assembly will host a discussion and Q&A regarding the Occupy Wall Street movement Thursday night, part one in the HCA Talks series.

Thursday’s discussion, The Occupy Movement: Public Good or Private Good, will feature economics Professor William Aldridge and UA student Lucie Enns, who participated in the movement as part of a research project.

Austin Lafferty, University of Alabama junior and organizer of HCA Talks, said he looked for professors who were passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects to help facilitate informal but lively discussion among UA students.

“The students will have the opportunity to discuss both with the faculty members and amongst themselves the topics addressed in an informal atmosphere,” Lafferty said.

Lafferty said they are aiming for a format similar to that of Ted Talks.

Dr. Adam Lankford is scheduled to lead next month’s discussion, focusing on the behavioral differences of Navy SEALs and Secret Service Agents with Islamic suicide terrorists.

Dr. Amy Lang will wrap up the series with On Being a Christian Scientist: God, Biology and Aerospace Engineering.

The talks are scheduled for the final Thursday evening of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Riverside Residential Complex on campus.